The Democratic advocate., 1887-04-16
For tile Democratic Adroeate.
cARRoLL's SEMI CENTENNIAL.

tut tNC DCHtOCtuttC <iUtO1utSs
cARRoLL's ssEMI-CENTENNIAL.
l have been kindly asked to jot down
some "reminiscences of events connected
with the ushering into existence of Carroll
county among the family of Maryland
Counties, fifty years ago. At that time,
and for several years preceding, l was
resident of Manchester, in Baltimore county
that part of it proposed to be taken with
in the limits of the new county. Man.
chester was then the metropolis of dug
Hill District" a noted District Of N. W.
Baltimore county, embracing in its limits
the present fourishing town of Hampstead,
and famous for its overwhelming 'Jack
son" majority at the polls; then usually
held at Becker's Hotel, on the turnpike,
between the two places. The politicians of
Baltimore county were unwilling to lose
Dug Hill District, and warmly opposed the
new county project. The great majority
of its people also, so long accustomed to
Baltimore city as their county metropolis,
were also averse to the change. Every
year proceeding the election large caval-
cade of Baltimore county candidates and
their adherents would attend the appoint
ments for "stump speaking" at Manchester
and Hampstead, when the fun often waxed
"fast and furious" Dug Hill District
could always have successful candidate,
when wanted, and Col. Adam Shower fire.
quently represented his county in the Leg
islature. Afterwards, his son, the late DR..
Jacob Shower, succeeded him. Conse-
quently, when the first effort was made,
several years before 1887, it was strongly
opposed in the Dug Hill District. The
people of Manchester, though distant thirty
miles from Baltimore, could not at first
relish the idea of Westminster, a rival
town, but ten miles off, in the verge of
Frederick county, becoming their county
seat. Consequently, when the vote was
about to be taken in October, 1888, under
the act of the Legislature to ascertain the
sense of the voters within the limits of the
proposed pew county of Carroll, for or
against the project, the excitement was
great. Much electioneering was done on
both sides. A public meeting was called
at Manchester and the champions of both
sides attended for the discussion. OF the
speakers in behalf of the new county | only
remember that Col. Phos. Hook was the
chief-an uneducated man, rude but strong,
as common in those days. Col. j. x.
Longwell, editor of the Westminster Car
rolltonian, was present, but did not partic-
ipate in the speaking as l remember. On
the other side appeared, l think, Col.
Hugh Ely, long popular representative of
Baltimore county, and james Carroll, Esq,
a retired lawyer of that county. No de-
cided hit was made on either side, until
Mr.. Carroll alluded to the fact that the law
required the vote for and against the new
county to be taken Sirq yOce instead of by
ballot. Herung the changes on this theme,
and eloquently expatiated on the inestimar
pie privilege of the vote by the secret bal
lot constitutionally secured to us by our
glorious ancestors, and now about to be ut
terly destroyed by this nefarious act. The
idea seemed to have weight and the people
were for the time Mortified at the idea that
the great palladium of our liberties, the
ballot boy, bad received an almost fatal
blow. Phe friends of the pew county did
their best to retrieve their lost gyogld / |
but it was decidedly of no use at that meet
ing; and the result was considered de-
cided triumph for the opponents of the
new county.
The friends of the new county, however,
did notquail or relax their efforts. hnother
meeting was called to be held at Mr.. George |
Showers Hotel, about mile above N Jan
chester, at the foot of Dug Hill and nearer |
to that part of the district in favor Of the
new county. The same speakers on both
sides were again present. Andrew Shriver,
the venerable patriarch of Union Mills, was
present 10 speak in behalf of the new
county. His reputation in that section of
Carroll county, as an enlightened sage and
puplic adviser, was great; and it had its
effect upon the audience. Col. Hook had
studied out, in the meantime, that
''wisa woee vote" question in all its bear
ings, and seemed no lopgeF embarrassed by
the awful vision of the imperilled ballot
box. Mr.. Carroll did not dilate so foFcibly
on that part of his subject. 1t did not bear
repetition so well, and had lost of some of
its charm. Col. Ely acquitted himself well
IS usual, and. to use his own expression,
'kiveyed the whole ground" On the
whole the result of this meeting rather en-
,ouraged the friends Of the new county.
The election come off in due time. The
Tote was required to be favorable in both
egments of Frederick and Baltimore coun-
les interested or it would be lost The
majority in the Frederick county side was
arge in its favor. In the Baltimore county
ide it was lost by but 81 votes. The ma
ority in Dug Hill district against it settled
he question. News travelled slowly in those
lays. The greatest anxiety existed in
Manchester to hear from the vote in Wool
RVS and Freedom districts, and it was some
ime before the actual result was known.
t was cruel blow to the friends of the !
roject, but at that time was considered
riumph at Manchester. They were report
d to have had great jolli6cation, feast .
&C., over it; but, if there was, | did not know :
uything of it. The only rejoicing | know .
{ was when, after the result had been as d
artained, number Of enthusiastic men Z
auled the old cannon to the top of the hill b
wards Westminster, and made the night '
II ring with the sound Of its discharges t
The bad feeling engendered by this con- Il
st soon began to clear away. People in
Ie Dug Hill district, dropping old preju- Fl
ces, began to consult their own interests p
the matter. The chief citizens of West e
inster, to counteract the bad effects to the d
use produced by mischief makers, even 81